Kohima, October 3 (MExN): The Nagaland Directorate of School Education (DoSE) has directed all government and private schools within the state of Nagaland to take precautionary measures in view of child lifting cases being reported across the State.
DoSE Principal Director Thavaseelan K issued a notification on Monday calling for strict adherence to the directives.
Among others, the DoSE advised the schools to entrust one teacher each to take charge of one section or class; verify the authenticity of every person who meets the students in school; and thereby control access of unknown persons to students.
Attendance taken at the first period should be verified by all subject teachers during the subsequent periods, it added.
In case any student is found bunking classes, school authorities/teachers should contact parents and confirm whether the students are absent in actual or missing. Regular awareness should be given to students, teachers and parents in co-ordination with Police Department, it said.
It also advised schools to create awareness among students on how to prevent kidnappings through movie clips/plays/painting or other competitions/awareness campaigns etc. There can be mock drills to teach SOP in case a child kidnapping case is reported with different scenarios like kidnapping at railway station/or bus/or school etc, it added.
Students should be taught to rush and take help from the nearby authorities like driver in bus, principal/teachers in schools, parents, nearby churches on roads, TTE in Trains etc, it said, while recommending techniques like shouting loudly for help, if any suspicious persons approach the child in public. Children may be taught of indirect signals which a child can use to communicate to nearby people to save one from dangerous persons.
To create awareness among students, parents, teachers and public, assistance of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) may be taken.
The DoSE also directed the schools to immediately inform the police if any case is reported. Child Helpline 1098 should be used immediately when any case of child kidnapping is reported.
In addition to displaying Helpline Numbers of Local Police Station/Control Room in class rooms and prominent places within the school premises, it directed the schools to ensure that students are taught to remember at least two emergency phone numbers and two addresses (Parents/favourite Teacher) to use, in case of any emergency.
Basic self-defence may be taught in all schools. Instances where self-defence is to be used and where one should resist should also be taught, the notification stated.
Additionally, the DoSE also asked parents to avoid uploading pictures of children in social media platforms as anti-social elements track their activities like school time/sports time etc., and make plans of kidnapping accordingly.
Authenticity of shop owners nearby schools should be verified by the school authorities and Police/Civil Administration should be informed in case of suspicions. CCTVs inside schools and outside school gates may be installed, it added.
